ALL REPRO R.A.F. Irvin type jackets

[Fly Boy]

Hi guys,

I thought I'd post a few photos of test jacket #4 being worn. As with jacket #3, apologies for the model - the photos were taken early this morning before enough coffee had been consumed!

This jacket is for sale: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?58905-Repro-Irvin-test-jacket-4-for-sale

If there are no takers for this jacket, it will go on ebay later this week.

Cheers,

Jon

I've said it before, and I'll say it again Jonny, you're a very talented man - Your jackets are excellent!

 

[Jonnyboy]

Hi guys,

Jackets #3 and #4 are now on ebay. Here are links to the listings for anyone who's interested:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330620210153? ... 500wt_1220

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330620218073? ... 500wt_1220

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Baron Enski]

Hi
Would be possible for you to make a late war jacket with the shaggy sheepskin

 

[Jonnyboy]

Hi
Would be possible for you to make a late war jacket with the shaggy sheepskin

Hi Baron Enski,

That's something I'm hoping to do in the not too distant future.

Ideally, I'm aiming to be able to offer jackets made in a range of skins; i.e. close-cropped like pre- and early- war jackets, slightly looser which is more typical of mid-war jackets, and the shaggier sheepskin often found on later war multipanel jackets.

With the sheepskin tannery, there is a minimum order quantity for skins, so I can't offer that range at the moment. It's a definite plan though!

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Baron Enski]

Thanks
I'll be waiting , hope production goes well !!!

 

[Jonnyboy]

Hi guys,

Just thought I'd share a couple of photos of test jacket #1 as it's looking now, after 7 months of wear, being thrown in the boot of the car, left out in the rain, and generally treated badly! Well, it is a test jacket after all.

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Spitfire]

Looking great, Jon. Any news on your website yet? Or when the production starts in earnest?
Cheers mate!

 

[Jonnyboy]

Thanks Søren!

I'm currently trying to get more sheepskin. When I have that I'll be able to make more jackets (hopefully lots more!).

The website should be up and running in the next couple of weeks - I'll let you know when it's done.

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Spitfire]

Finally a bit of frost at night, clear blue, cold sky - it's IRVIN weather!!!!! The helmet is just for show off

 

[ButteMT61]

Great pic! Ready for battle, or, coffee

 

[Edward]

I'd love to see you wearing the helmet out in public, if you could have someone with a hidden camera following you and recording the reactions....

My sheepskins are still in the wardrobe, but it's coming close time for them to come out again. I'll be very surprised if I don't end up wearing one of them by the time December hits; certainly will be taking one with me to Beijing later in that month, and Belfast thereafter!

 

[Fury964]

I bought a late pattern original that was in bad condition, rips that had been sewn up, collar strap cut off, zips replaced, you know the sort of thing. I sent it away to have these things corrected and now it is one of my favourite original items. It is however a little too small for me and as I had bitter experience of wearing original kit I bought an ELC repro BoB jacket. I wear it every opportunity I can. The first time I wore it, I went out in the car to the shops. I didn't take the jacket off when I drove. When I got out at the shops, it really made me think, how did the pilots fly in these things, what with all the other kit as well. I found it really difficult just to drive wearing it.
I was lucky enough to go for a taxi ride in Just Jane, East Kirkbys Lancaster a couple of weeks ago. I wore my repro and lent my original to my girlfriend.
She loved wearing it. There's something about looking after these old jackets.

 

[Spitfire]

I'd love to see you wearing the helmet out in public, if you could have someone with a hidden camera following you and recording the reactions....

No doubt it would be funny. Especially if I did it with Irvin, flying helmet, 1936 pattern boots - AND a open parachute dragging along after me. Maybe asking for direction to the British Embassy.

 

[Edward]

I bought a late pattern original that was in bad condition, rips that had been sewn up, collar strap cut off, zips replaced, you know the sort of thing. I sent it away to have these things corrected and now it is one of my favourite original items. It is however a little too small for me and as I had bitter experience of wearing original kit I bought an ELC repro BoB jacket. I wear it every opportunity I can. The first time I wore it, I went out in the car to the shops. I didn't take the jacket off when I drove. When I got out at the shops, it really made me think, how did the pilots fly in these things, what with all the other kit as well. I found it really difficult just to drive wearing it.
I was lucky enough to go for a taxi ride in Just Jane, East Kirkbys Lancaster a couple of weeks ago. I wore my repro and lent my original to my girlfriend.
She loved wearing it. There's something about looking after these old jackets.

I love the look of the pre-war, four panel design - I see too that ELC have changed the pricing of their Irvins. Used to be the 42 pattern was about GBP50.00 cheaper than the BoB, but now it's the other way around. At least it was when I looked on the site last week.

 

[Fury964]

Yes, I've only had mine about four or five months but I'm glad I bought it when I did. ELC have obviously spotted the trend and have priced accordingly. When I bought they were both the same at £599.99. Now the BoB is £649.99. Can't fault the jacket though, I even phoned them up and told how good I thought it is. I still like the idea of wearing original stuff but sometimes it just isn't practical.

 

[Fury964]

Spitfire, I think that if you had done that about 30 years ago people would think they had seen a ghost. If you did it now I think they would just think that you're mad. ;o)

 

[Jonnyboy]

Hi guys,

After a very, very long wait, I'm soon to receive my new sheepskins! I'm expecting a sample any day now from the tannery of the skins they've produced for me, to check before they ship the first batch. So, I'll hopefully be able to take orders for jackets by the end of this month!

They've matched to a sample of the skins I used to make the test jackets. Here's test jacket #1 after almost 12 months (it's nearly its first birthday, so I thought it would be good to show a couple of comparison pics of it next to an original Irvin). The original isn't the pattern jacket, but it is quite similar:

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Edward]

Which is which?

(Genuine question..... which is, on reflection, also a compliment on your skill!).

 

[Otter]

At a guess the repro is on the right? Took a while to come to that decision, very nice work there!

 

[Spitfire]

Stunning work, Jon! Absolutely fantastic!:eusa_clap